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Digitalis toxicity

Digitalis is a medication prescribed to certain heart patients. Digitalis toxicity is a complication of digitalis therapy, or it may be occur when someone takes too much of the drug at one time. (This is called an acute ingestion.)

The most common prescription form of this medication is called digoxin. Digitoxin is another form of digitalis.

Causes

Digitalis toxicity can be caused by high levels of digitalis in the body. It may also be caused by a decreased tolerance to the drug. Patients with decreased tolerance may have normal levels of digitalis in their blood. Digitalis toxicity may occur in these patientsif they have other risk factors.

People with heart failure who take digoxin are commonly given medications called diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body. Many diuretics can cause potassium loss. Low levels of potassium in the body increase the risk of digitalis toxicity. Digitalis toxicity may also result in persons who take the drug and who have low levels of magnesium in the body.

Heart failure

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump out enough oxygen-rich blood. This causes symptoms to occur throughout the...

You are more likely to have this condition if you take digoxin, digitoxin, or other digitalismedicinesalong with drugs that interact withit such as quinidine, flecainide, verapamil, amiodarone, and others.

If your kidneys do not work well,digitalis can build up in the body rather than be removed normally through urine.Any problem that affects how your kidneys work(including dehydration) makes digitalis toxicity more likely.

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how muc...

References

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) - illustration

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common garden plant that contains digitalis and other "cardiac glycosides". These chemicals affect the heart. Foxglove is poisonous, although recorded poisonings from this plant are very rare.

Foxglove (Digitalis purp...

illustration

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) - illustration

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common garden plant that contains digitalis and other "cardiac glycosides". These chemicals affect the heart. Foxglove is poisonous, although recorded poisonings from this plant are very rare.